Congress stimulus negotiations: Things are finally starting to move

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/05/politics/congress-stimulus-negotiations/index.html

(CNN)The negotiators are, at long last, actually negotiating.

After seven meetings, totaling more than a dozen hours, the top Democratic and White House negotiators are not just walking through their disagreements, but putting offers on the table, trading proposals and to a small degree, starting to make concessions. They've even agreed on a deadline for a deal -- the end of this week.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday afternoon senators will "certainly be in next week," delaying the start of the chamber's August recess.

"We'll certainly be in next week. We'll see what happens after that," McConnell said.

Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, a member of leadership, argued that if there wasn't a deal, members might as well go home.

"If there's not a deal by Friday, there won't be a deal," Blunt said.

Bottom line: There is still a long way to go and an agreement to a timeline to reach an agreement -- one that is already one week after the initial deadline -- isn't much on its face. But what's happening behind the scenes is a signal things are actually starting to kick into gear.

What to watch: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows will be back on Capitol Hill for negotiations.

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